Eureka

6

My only concern so far is the number of bikes in the area. Bikers, when they're a part of a club, can cause problems when it comes to safety in a town, though some have been known to ensure safety. It shouldn't affect me much, but I need to stay sharp. The outlaw clubs tend to be trigger happy and think they own whatever place they're in. At least that was my experience with them in the past. I don't do well with their typical level of disrespect towards outsiders and pushy ways.

Millie lets me get settled in so I could take a nap and freshen up a little bit. I went across the hall to investigate the other bedroom, the spare one, not Landon's. That would be weird. 

After a quick glance around the room, I can't complain about a single thing here. The house is gorgeous.

Moving back to my room, I peek my head in the bathroom and like what I see. There is a luxurious claw foot bathtub, but the shower head is modern. Seeing all of this makes me beyond excited to come back and make use of it later tonight.

Before I stash my duffel bag under my bed, I grab some cash out and check my weapons to do a quick inventory of everything I had with me. I'll have to find a shop nearby and pick up some more of my essentials without getting on law enforcement radar. 

Speaking of law enforcement, as much as I love Millie's place, I'm not sure how I feel about a cop sleeping across the hall from me. At least this is temporary. And if I don't like it here, I can just move on. I settled myself in the bed and set an alarm to wake me up in a few hours. After driving all night I just need a little shuteye to function at dinner tonight.

Later in the afternoon, Landon drives us to a restaurant, grumbling the whole way about not being a designated driver or chauffeur. I haven't been in town for an entire day yet, and Millie and I seem to have clicked rather well. Even better than Portia and I did. 

She helped me get ready to go out as if I had never done it before. She even tried to get me to borrow a shirt from her. I opted for some black high waisted shorts and a simple loose long sleeved top. I kept my combat style boots on, giving my girly look a little harder edge. My hipster barista acquaintance from Houston would have been so proud of me. I slipped one of my smaller switchblades into my boot and tucked another in my belt sheath. I refuse to go somewhere unarmed if I can help it.

Landon parks his car and decides to come inside to join us for a quick dinner before taking off to head to the police station to do some paperwork for whatever errand he had gone on before he stumbled upon me and my car. I am beyond grateful for him and Millie letting me stay, but the more time I spend around him, the more uncomfortable I get. Cops, man.

The three of us walk inside and find a table near the back of the restaurant, which is called The Bar and Grill. Zero points given for originality on the name, but the atmosphere inside helps to make up for that. It's kind of country, kind of hippie chic, but with a hint of grunge but could also pull off a club look with the right lighting. It feels bipolar, and I am unable to pin down the exact vibe this place gives off, but I already like it. It is way different than the one I worked at in Houston.

There is a "U" shaped bar jutting out into the middle of the floor, the open end facing the wall behind where a wall of liquor and old school marquee lights highlight the area. Off to the right are a few more private tables standing tall along the wall. They lead back towards a hallway where the bathrooms and some other rooms appear to be. There are a set of stairs at the very back of that area that I can only just make out under the dimmed lights. Off to the left is the rest of the dining room that has tables and booths and a cleared out area for a dance floor. There is a small stage area where they probably house a live band on occasion or maybe karaoke or trivia. I can see there is a window to a kitchen on the wall near where the bar is. As well as a long line of soft drink machines and a sink.

A pretty waitress with long dyed red hair stops by our table to take our drink orders. Her name, according to her name tag, is Emily. I give her a smile before she hurries away. Keeping my eyes moving across the room, I scope out the people in this town. 

I'm a people watcher by nature. I'm also fairly good at reading people, so that comes in handy when I'm on a job. If I decide this town is one I'd want to stay in, I have to see what kind of people live here. 

I make a mental note to reach out to The Family to let them know about my relocation so they can help me with that endeavor. The place is filled with light hearted laughter and conversation with quiet rock music playing in the background. Millie is talking with the older man sitting at the table next to us while I look around. I see Landon tense up a little right before I hear the cause.

"Wolfie! There you are! I tried to call you. Where have you been?" 

Startled, I look up at the woman whose voice sends unpleasant shivers down my spine. She is a beautiful woman. Bottle blonde with a full figure in an hourglass shape, she exudes femininity with every move and every breath, probably. She's taller than me by more than a few inches, and is wearing platform wedges to make her even taller. Landon would be considered a lucky man, if he can get her to stop talking in a voice so shrill.

"Hey, Kelsey." Landon, oh, sorry, Wolfie, says to her as she comes over to perch on his lap and give him a big kiss on the cheek. "I'm sorry, I should have called you back. I got held up today. I found Scarlett here stranded on the side of the road." He says, gesturing to me. I resist the urge to glare at him.

Placing the blame on me? I see you, Officer Wolfie. I. See. You. 

The glare I receive from Kelsey is quite obvious to all parties at the table, and the air seems to suddenly feel very tense. I can't help but smile at her insecurities. I attempt to placate her fears or discomforts or whatever. 

"Hi, Kelsey, is it? I'm Letty. Your man here saved me from either a long walk or an awkward night sleeping in the wilderness. I'm sorry I commandeered him for the day, but I was pretty thankful for the help." I shoot him a discrete wink, and I reach my hand out to shake hers. 

Kelsey looks at my hand, sniffs slightly before giving me a sickly sweet smile. She reaches her hand out to accept mine in the daintiest handshake I think I have ever experienced. 

"It's okay since I'll have him for the night, right babe?" She says with a cheerier tone as she turns to look at Landon who seemed to have relaxed a little at the sight of me and Kelsey shaking hands. Jealous woman, eh?

"Well, I actually need to go into the office and file some paperwork this evening so I can avoid overtime on Saturday." Landon says as he looks up at Kelsey for a reaction. She pouts.

"Oh, good. I doubt Letty wants to hear you two go at it like rabid dogs all night." Millie says with a giggle.

"Wait, is she staying with you?" Kelsey turns from Millie to Landon. "Landon?" She asks in a demanding tone.

"She's our first tenant, Kels. She needed somewhere to stay. We needed the input from an unbiased party before people tear apart the accommodations online," Landon says as if he is talking to a child. She scowls at him.

"Fine. When you're done here, come to my shop for a bit. I need you to run some deliveries for me first thing tomorrow." She hops back off his lap grumbling something about me and a hotel. She saunters away as Landon calls out to her retreating figure. "Sure thing, babe. I'll be there in a bit."

We wait until she rounds the corner.

"Wolfie, huh?" I say with a big grin.

"Don't even start." He says, glaring at me and Millie who is now cracking up next to me. Oh, sensitive subject. This should be fun. I feel my grin spread into a full blown smile. I guess I'll be nice and not mention it again. For now.

A/N: Please vote and comment to let me know what you think so far!